InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Jambalaya."

Isadora Raleigh (poison_and_fire) wrote in indarkness_logs,
@ 2010-09-14 22:40:00

Entry tags:

!complete, 2032 09, ichabod crane, isadora raleigh

RP: It made her wonder ...
Characters: Isadora, Ichabod
Time/Date: Evening, September 14
Location: Library
Warnings/Rating: None
Summary: Isadora is less than thrilled with one of the absences
Status: complete

Dora had read Jaime's list after it had been posted. It was shorter than she'd anticipated, though her eyes lingered overlong on one name. Her jaw clenched and her eyes narrowed slightly.

It stood to reason though, didn't it? He'd been a thorn in their side since he shot their delivery boy ... so why wouldn't they "send him home"? Of course, a second thought chased along the heels of that one: had they somehow overheard the discussion she'd had with him? Did they know everything they were planning about traps and misdirection?

Or was it simply coincidence?

A preventive measure?

Were they extracting conversations from his brain? Could they do that?

Frustrated at how little she could reasonably assume about the situation, Dora moved to the door. Iridia hopped up and stalked after her in that easy, graceful way he had. Together, they moved down the stairs toward the lobby, though she wasn't sure what she intended to do.

She knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to pretend she was five, and throw a tantrum. Break things and scream out her rage at the situation. Accuse her captors, bring them down somehow. But she couldn't. She couldn't. Her thoughts flit to the garden, to the poison she could make ... and she thought perhaps she'd have to look into that, soon. Maybe she'd pull a villain card and threaten one of their precious rats.

She wondered if she could though. Taking a life wasn't something she had a problem with ... but generating mistrust among her allies was. Clearly, her next course of action should be seeking out another ally, one of a similar mind, of a similar intelligence ... and she wondered if there was anyone here quite like Spike.

Irritated, Dora stalked into the library, pleased to find it apparently empty. She moved to the shelf against the wall, her eyes scanning the titles though she had little interest in any of them. Instead, she studied the chair he'd sat in the last time they'd been in here. It wasn't fair, and she hated that her thoughts had been reduced to those of a pouting child, but there it was. It wasn't fair that they took away her one ally, her strongest bet.

If she hadn't been inclined for revenge before, she most certainly was now.

Iridia lifted his lips slightly, baring his teeth in response to Isadora's mood, her thoughts.

Dropping her hand once more, she stroked his head before she moved to settle into one of the chairs with a book selected at random. Perhaps someone would come along to wallow with her ... or distract her.

(Post a new comment)

no_superstition
2010-09-17 03:12 am UTC (link)

It had been bittersweet waking in this strange place- bitter, as those who had become so close to him were not here; sweet because the note on the device that had been on the night stand was ominous indeed. Observation and the threat of death if he tried to leave; he could not stay, there was important work to do and people who needed him- people he had come to depend upon.

Like the message had suggested he left the room in search of others; how tall this building must have been to have had so many stairs, so many floors. When he reached the last he took in the appearance of everything; like his room is was so completely different from anything he had seen, and to this point he had seen no other living soul in this place, yet the letter spoke of others. What others?

There were several places here that he could search, yet the one that drew his attention for now was the library, a natural meeting place in his day. It surely must have been the same here, for the library was were ideas were born and knowledge was shared. When he entered he found a place so similar and yet so different from what he expected: similar for the quantity of books, but different in every other aspect. Approaching one of the rows he drew his fingers across the bindings; they were quite different from what he expected, vividly colored and not all bound in leather.

Curious he rounded the end, only to pause as he spotted a frighteningly large cat laying beside a woman who seemed particularly unconcerned with its presence. “Madame,” Ichabod nearly whispered as he instinctively went for his pistol and stepped back, though he did not draw it. When checked it proved to no longer contain its shot, so what would be the point? Besides, was this expected, normal for these "others"? “The beast beside you," he said quietly, though it was more of a question than a statement.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

poison_and_fire
2010-09-17 03:36 am UTC (link)

Isadora glanced up as someone approached, and she did manage to school her reaction to his apparent alarm. Iridia had incited any number of reactions, and this wasn't the first time he'd apparently alarmed someone. Granted, her current mood made it easy enough for her to keep a straight face. She'd managed to carefully suppress the worst of her ... irritation, leaving her outwardly calm if inwardly seething.

"He's tame," she replied simply before she shifted her gaze to let her eyes rest on his face. He looked ... vaguely familiar, then realized it might well be a case of mistaken identity. There were those two blonde boys, after all, who were all but twins. Perhaps this was simply the way their captors were choosing to play now.

"Have you arrived recently?" she inquired as she closed her book and set it on the table beside her chair. He had that look about him. The one that tended to disappear after a few days ... but the one that was so often present in those who'd just woken up and were still trying to sort out just how real this was.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

no_superstition
2010-09-17 03:59 am UTC (link)

Tame. The animal had to be to simply lie beside her as it was, and it remain beside her. It wasn't unheard of for the wealthy to have such pets, so maybe that was the case here. She did seem extraordinarily comfortable with him, after all.

"I have," he replied to her question as he moved his hand from the pistol and clasped both behind him. He was still uncomfortable with the situation and his eyyes occasoinally glanced to the cat, just in case. "Although I am not entirely certain where I have arrived. This had nothing more than a rather disturbing message," he said as he pulled the device from his pocket to show her. "I'm afraid I cannot remain here for this program it speaks of, so if you could direct me to those with whom I must speak to resolve this, I would be most grateful."

Despite the fact that the device said his chances of returning home depended upon others, he could not help but think that it was a mistake, something that rational discussion could resolve. Either that or he could wake soon and be where he had expected to be in the first place.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

poison_and_fire
2010-09-17 04:09 am UTC (link)

It was ... adorable, in a way ... when they thought they could go home. Because who would still be here if that was the case? "As far as we know, this place doesn't have a name," she began. "You can post something in the network on either that device or the computer in your room, but there's no promise they'll respond. If they do respond, the odds are very good it won't be favorable."

No, the odds were pretty high they'd taunt or mock or respond with inane questions. She'd seen a few discussions and hadn't been inclined to try her own questions.

She wondered how much she should tell him to start off. The line was back, she recalled, so that should be a place to start. "There's a white line paralleling the perimeter of this island. It's highly suggested you don't attempt to cross it. A few people have tried, and it ended badly for all of them." Eventually, even for the one who had succeeded in crossing.

"I'm not generally on the welcoming committee, and I'm sure Tyler or Jaime could help you more efficiently, but I'll do my best," she continued. She wasn't unwelcoming, exactly, but she was generally a more solitary person. Her primary company, however, was among the missing. The ones who were sent home. The ones who were very likely dead.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

no_superstition
2010-09-17 04:25 am UTC (link)

Post, with this? There was no quills, no pens, it was not even paper. There was far more to this device than he knew, and this computer- it must have been one of the many things that he had found in the room when he woke. He would need to look at it again- at everything.

He looked at the device again and nodded his head, "Yes, it does mention this white boundary," he said, though the way he held it showed that he'd had no experience with electronics of any sort, and he frowned at it before he looked back to her. What she said made sense; if there was a message on it, then it had to be placed there somehow. "What lies across this line, and how did it end for them? This message mentions the dangers, and I cannot help but wonder at them."

He bowed slightly then when she mentioned that she was not part of a welcoming committee, but she was speaking to him. Assisting him when she could easily ignore him, or worse. "I thank you for your assistance, Miss. Am I to understand that this happens often?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

poison_and_fire
2010-09-17 04:43 am UTC (link)

"Isadora," she introduced herself. "And Iridia," she added with a gesture to the cat beside her. She could see easily enough that he must have been from a time before the electronics. She herself was from a world different from the one that had evolved into electronics, but it amounted to the same thing: unfamiliarity with the devices and how to use them.

She'd learned, of course, though she rarely opted to use her own.

"I only know of three who tried. Mr. Collins found himself in a vat of acid. Miss Langly managed a successful crossing, though a few weeks later she ... turned up dead. I'm not sure of the name of the other one, but there was apparently quicksand involved."

Hesitating slightly, she continued. "Until very recently, the line was removed from play, and Mr. Collins once again attempted escape. He encountered some sort of paralytic trap in the water and has only recently recovered."

She lifted her eyes slightly, meeting his gaze evenly. "This isn't a good place, and there isn't a way out."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

no_superstition
2010-09-17 04:53 am UTC (link)

"Forgive my manner," he said as he realized that he'd been quite rude. "Constable Ichabod Crane," he'd said with another small bow, though he did not add his origin. Besides, beyond observation he had no idea what his purpose in this place was.

Though when she continued his brows furrowed as he considered each trap and each result. If only he'd had his journal! Perhaps there was something he could find in this place that would give him the opportunity to have something similar.

"Yet they speak of a way out," he pointed out, although death was certainly a way out. "May I ask how you came to this place?" She seemed familiar enough to have been here for a time, though her words gave him a feeling of disquiet that he'd not had just a few minutes before.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

poison_and_fire
2010-09-17 05:10 am UTC (link)

"Pleasure to meet you," she replied quietly. She stroked her fingertips along Iridia's head as the cat sat up and shifted his position slightly. She realized then she hadn't launched into this 'this is my soul' discussion ... perhaps she'd simply stick to letting people assume he was a pet and just be extra careful about the ambitiously brave souls who wanted to try to pet him.

"They may hint at it, but we think that's just part of their game." While she hadn't exactly resigned herself to death as the only way out, she was considering the fact her options were death or escape, and a return home simply wasn't on the agenda. "It's possible. We don't know. Maybe this is one grand, elaborate puzzle and a return, or an escape, will be a reward for a small lucky few.

"Given their past behavior, however, I think you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who truly believes they'll be going home." She exhaled softly. "We've been here for just under three months, give or take," she murmured. "As well as I can tell. For all we know, they knock us out for weeks at a time. There's no way of keeping track of the date here."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

no_superstition
2010-09-17 04:44 pm UTC (link)

He took an involuntary step back as the cat sat up. It was a very large animal and the last thing he wanted was to find out whether its temper could be tested by the smallest things. He had heard stories, after all.

"Death is a terrible penalty to pay for any game. This sounds very much like an experiment, but why? What would they gain, or what do they hope to gain by killing those involved? One would think they would prefer to protect instead. I makes no sense" Already the wheels in his mind were turning, but having just arrived he had nowhere near the information he needed. This was not Sleepy Hollow after all.

It was even more disturbing that time should be so fleeting here, yet he could not understand why the date could not be kept- save for what she said. If they were indeed put to sleep from time to time, then what was the point- or was she simply paranoid?

"Well, I trust others have not simply accepted this fate," he commented, confident that he would not regardless of what others had to say. "Nor will I. Perhaps in the process those who have died at the hands of these people may have justice, and we may all be freed from this... whatever this is."

She did not seem particularly thrilled, yet she did not seem particularly sad either, and he could not help but be curious. "Beg pardon miss, but how did you come to this place?" he asked quietly. Curiosity got the best of him as ever; after all, she looked nothing like the ladies in his time- and why would they bring her cat?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

poison_and_fire
2010-09-17 04:58 pm UTC (link)

Isadora lifted her shoulders in a light shrug. "Observation, I suppose. Kill a couple of rats and see how their cage mates react," she quipped dryly. "They claim they're simply observing us. Apparently their latest trick is sending people away to see how everyone copes with that." She made a slight gesture with one hand before returning it to Iridia's head, stroking gently. "One of the women that is no longer here was something of a ... figure, around here. The sort that everyone knew and most everyone liked. Something like a leader, if we were to claim to have such things. So of course they would take her to see how we functioned in her absence."

Isadora was not at all inclined to mention her thoughts on why they might have taken Spike. It disturbed her more than she wanted to let on that they'd taken him, and that wasn't something she wanted to investigate too deeply.

"Some apparently have. Some outwardly fight it. Others may be biding their time and plotting for an opportunity to escape, or at least turn the tables on our captors." She was in the latter group, but she saw no reason at all to let onto that. Not when she knew (or highly suspected) that this entire conversation was being recorded. That they were watching her, even now.

"The same way the others did, I imagine. We all wake up here. Some people claim to have memories or dreams of people in white coats invading their bedroom. Others I imagine were snatched just before their demise, from the stories I've heard. As for how ..." she splayed her hands in a 'who can say' gesture. "They have methods of technology far beyond my humble grasp."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

no_superstition
2010-09-18 02:42 am UTC (link)

There was a small reaction at her mention of men in white coats. He'd thought it to be a dream, not a memory, yet there was nothing concrete about it. Formless, foggy and completely void of language or other sound; he had dismissed it wholly, but now he would have to reconsider that.

"I see," he said once again, a bit more weakly as he frowned for a moment. "No doubt they would not come among us then, for whatever purpose. Perhaps they fear ruining their experiments with their presence," he mused; more likely they feared a backlash from those who were here, particularly for the death threats- or the actual deaths.

"Nothing I have seen here makes sense to me," he said softly as he looked around the room before returning attention to the cat once more. "Am I disturbing you, Miss Raleigh? Shall I leave you to your reading?" The last thing he needed to do was upset those who were already here; he needed to take a measure of things, to understand as time progressed and find a way home. Making enemies (which was too easy for him it seemed) was not what he needed to do now.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

poison_and_fire
2010-09-18 03:03 am UTC (link)

She laughed softly, though not intentionally. "Not anymore they don't," she admitted. "A ... one of the other captives, one who's missing now, shot one of them. We don't think he was one of the higher ups; he was stocking the stores. All the same, I think it goes a long way to explaining why people's weapons were taken." She understood they were returned, now, but she'd also overheard someone complaining about a lack of ammunition.

"If they come up here anymore ... I think they drug us first." There'd been a couple of mornings that she'd woken up with headaches that she could attribute to that.

"Nothing does make sense. Sometimes I think that's part of their point. To keep our ... reality, such as it was, constantly changing. We don't know what to expect, and that makes us uneasy, paranoid, wary.

"And yet, people manage to get on well enough. Make friends, find lovers, get along." Isadora shrugged her shoulders gently. "You aren't bothering me, if you'd like to stay and read. I'll answer your questions as well as I'm able if you haven't run out of them."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

no_superstition
2010-09-18 04:26 am UTC (link)

The resiliency of humanity under such circumstances never ceased to amaze him. Put most people in unimaginable circumstances and often they would manage to find a way to make a poor situation tolerable. Not always legally though, and those were the people he generally knew of, as his work tended to reveal the doings of those who took a darker path to survive- like shooting someone. He could not blame them though; by Isadora's explanation there could be no doubt that eventually someone would reach their own limits.

The ammunition issue concerned him though; his gone seemed to be devoid of the one shot it held, and if he could not replace it there was no point in carrying it. As strange as things seemed here, there would likely be little chance of finding what he needed for it- it was not with him when he woke, after all.

"Questions are never finished, I fear, and you may tire of them yet," he replied with a small smile, and his posture relaxed somewhat finally. "I thank you for your patience, Miss, but I think it best that I search this place further, become familiar with this place if I can. If I am to stay for any amount of time- as you have- I will need to discover as much as possible. An observation of the environment they have given us, as it is only fair, is it not?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

poison_and_fire
2010-09-18 04:50 am UTC (link)

Dora made a 'by all means' sort of gesture. "Mind the line if you go outside," she reminded him. She wondered who else he'd bump into, and she almost thought to warn him about some of the more ... colorful residents before deciding she'd let him judge for herself.

Besides that, with people missing, who knew what sort of moods even the usually nice people were going to be in? She thought she'd maintained a politeness through the conversation, though once Ichabod left, she'd go right back to brooding about Spike's absence.

"If you change your mind, I'll be here for a bit," she said. Otherwise ... he could post on the network or track down someone like Jaime.

Shifting her weight in the chair, she glanced to Iridia as he resettled himself by the chair. She picked up the book she'd set aside, though she didn't yet open it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

no_superstition
2010-09-18 03:47 pm UTC (link)

There was little chance he would post on this network until he understood how to use it- and he would, in time, inquire. After all, if it was a source of information he wanted to know about it.

"Thank you," he replied before he turned to leave. "I will remember that."

One more glance to the surprisingly calm cat before he exited the library to leave the young lady in peace to read her books- he would definitely return here, as the quantity of volumes was too great for him to ignore. Isadora had been kind enough, and for that he was grateful.

(Reply to this) (Parent)